U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, in calling Russian President Vladimir Putin a thug for snatching the Crimea in the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, said it's likely "a done deal" that can't be undone, even with economic sanctions applied.

In an appearance at the Lamar Institute of Technology to hear about demand for high-paying petrochemical and related jobs from local industrial leaders, Cornyn said the United States could help loosen Putin's "stranglehold" on the European energy market by creating alternative supply methods such as liquefied natural gas exports.

Golden Pass project executive Bill Davis said if the terminal received needed permits, it could begin to export LNG by 2018.

Across Sabine Lake in Cameron Parish, La., Cheniere Energy already has begun conversion of its LNG import terminal for export.

Cornyn said the United States doesn't have much leverage against Putin, particularly because of U.S. reliance on Russia to pressure Syria to find a solution to its civil war and to convince Iran to give up its nuclear ambitions.